Modular support structures for floors

ABSTRACT

A modular support structure for floors may include: a plurality of support elements, configured to combine with one another, for formation of a plane on which concrete can be laid, on which a floor in turn can be made. Each of the support elements includes at least one sustaining element, on top of which at least one insulating plate is associated, the at least one insulating plate configured to form a plane for the concrete. The at least one sustaining element includes at least one sustaining tubular element configured to extend from the at least one insulating plate to the ground. The support elements are configured to keep free space between the at least one insulating plate and the ground. The at least one sustaining tubular element is open on top, so that the concrete enters the at least one sustaining tubular element to form a sustaining pillar.

The present invention refers to a modular support structure for floors.

In particular, the present invention concerns a support structure for floors that is applied in order to insulate the floors from the ground beneath.

Patent IT1416015 filed by the same Applicant describes a modular support structure for floors comprising a plurality of support elements able to be combined with one another, adapted for contributing to the formation of a plane on which a layer of concrete is laid, on which a floor can in turn be made. Such support elements being adapted for keeping a free space beneath the structure in which the air can circulate. Each of such support elements can comprise at least one from a modular element and an insulating element, and which contribute to the formation of such a plane for laying the layer of concrete together with insulating portions able to be associated with such support elements.

Such an insulating element is generally cup-shaped and is made of insulating material. It has a central cavity inside which the concrete is inserted so as to form, after casting, a sustaining concrete pillar. The insulting elements generally extend from the upper plane formed by the insulating portions to the lower plane formed by the ground.

Clearly, if the height at which the floor must be formed with respect to the ground beneath is of substantial size, then such insulting elements must be made of substantial length. Their insulating function of the floor from the ground beneath is obtained only close to the upper plane of the support structure, where the concrete is laid and where the floor is formed which must be insulated. Therefore, the entire part of insulating material with which such an insulating element is made, located close to the ground or in intermediate position, is not very useful, or even obsolete. Clearly, the waste increases when such insulting elements must be made of substantial length also juxtaposing them over one another.

Patent EP2601828 describes a structure for the creation of housings for setting trees, having a plurality of modular elements, each including an upper face and sustaining legs, such elements being associable with one another to make a substantially continuous upper surface and a substantially empty lower volume. Moreover, there are tubular extensions that at least partially cover the legs, which according to their length, determine the depth of the housing and therefore the size of the empty volume. Such tubular extensions are kept in position, before the subsequent positioning of such modular elements, through a frame, comprising frame members provided with supports adapted for inserting in the upper mouth of the tubular extensions themselves.

The roadway is reconstructed on such a surface, except for in one or more areas in which there is a through opening, which places the volume in communication with the area above the plane itself and in which the lower portion of the stem of the tree is inserted. The lower volume is filled with topsoil or with a suitable material for feeding such a tree.

In such a patent the empty space below the structure is filled with earth, but in some cases, it can be filled with water or with other materials depending on requirements.

The present invention proposes to avoid such drawbacks by providing a modular structure having the characteristics of the attached claim 1.

The characteristics and advantages of the structure according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, of an embodiment with reference to the attached figures that respectively illustrate:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of the structure according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2a-c represent convex, flat and concave variants of an insulating plate;

FIG. 3 represents a support element of the structure in front view;

FIG. 4 represents a variant of the support element of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c represent different ways of supporting the insulating plate with insulating portions;

FIG. 6 represents an embodiment of the support element in which the insulating portions are stacked on top of one another and fitted onto a sustaining tubular element;

FIG. 7 represents a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in which the insulating plate is rested on the outer edge of the insulating portions;

FIGS. 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d represent plan views of four different forms of the sustaining element with the smooth outer walls (8 a) with the toothed outer walls (8 b), with the interlocking outer walls (8 c) or with the undulating outer walls (8 d);

FIG. 9 represents an embodiment of the support element in which the insulating portions are stacked on top of one another and fitted onto the sustaining tubular element;

FIG. 10 represents a further embodiment in which the insulating plate is rested on a sustaining element formed from a collar made of expanded plastic material and from a sustaining tubular element;

FIG. 11 represents a further embodiment in which the insulating plate is rested on a sustaining element formed from a collar made of expanded plastic material shaped like an inverted “U” fitted onto a sustaining tubular element;

FIG. 12 represents a further embodiment in which the insulating plate is rested on a sustaining element formed from a collar made of rigid plastic material and from a sustaining tubular element;

FIG. 13 represents a further embodiment in which the insulating plate is rested on a sustaining element formed from a collar made of expanded plastic material shaped like an inverted “U” fitted and simultaneously slotted onto a sustaining tubular element;

FIGS. 14a, 14b and 14c respectively represent top, front and perspective views of a network of bases that depict the guide matrix for laying the sustaining elements;

FIG. 15 represents a perspective view of a support structure also comprising the network of bases of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 represents a perspective view of a support structure also comprising the network of bases of FIG. 14, on which the sustaining tubular elements rest, which extend from the insulating portions;

FIG. 17 represents a plan view of the structure of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 14;

FIGS. 18a-c illustrate an upper positioning grid for the sustaining tubular elements according to the present invention.

With reference to the quoted figures the structure according to the present invention comprises a plurality of support elements able to be combined with one another adapted for contributing to the formation of a plane on which a layer of concrete is laid on which a floor is then made and adapted for keeping a free space beneath them in which air can circulate.

Each of such support elements comprises at least one sustaining element on top of which at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate 2 is associated, adapted for the formation of such a plane for laying the layer of concrete.

The association between sustaining elements and the insulating plate makes it possible to make such a (flat or arched) substantially continuous surface P and a lower volume V that can remain empty or can be filled with suitable material (earth, water, etc.) depending on the purposes of the structure. Such an upper plate is preferably square or rectangular, but can take up other shapes, provided that it is suitable for the formation of such a surface P.

Such sustaining elements are generally positioned at the corners of such an insulating plate 2 and comprise a sustaining tubular element 4 that extends from the plate 2 to the ground T. Such a tubular element can have a round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular section, etc. and can be at least partially coated with an insulating portion 3.

The sustaining tubular element is open on top so that the concrete inserts inside it thereby forming, after casting, a sustaining concrete pillar.

Preferably, the insulating portion 3 can only be positioned close to the upper portion of the tubular element 4 close to the upper plate. Alternatively, the insulating portion 3 substantially completely covers the tubular element 4.

The insulating portion 3 is hollow for the insertion thereon of the tubular element 4 and has a substantially cylindrical, frusto-conical or parallelepiped shape.

Moreover, such insulating portions 3 can be stacked on top of one another around such a tubular element. The tubular elements 4 can also be made in portions able to be stacked on top of one another.

Such an insulating plate can for example be made of plastic, expanded plastic, wood, etc.

Such an insulating portion can be made of expanded plastic EPS, PPS, EPP, or pressed cardboard.

Such a sustaining tubular element can be made of metal, rigid plastic, for example PVC, PEHD, PP, PS etc.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the insulating portions 3 are parallelepiped cup-shaped. When they are parallelepiped in shape they can have smooth side surfaces, like in FIGS. 3 and 4 and in FIG. 8a . Advantageously, such surfaces can also be knurled, for example with a toothed design (FIG. 8b ) or dovetail design (FIG. 8c ), or undulating (FIG. 8d ), so as to be able to couple/interlock with portions of the same type that make up the structure.

Inside the tubular element 4 at the base thereof there can be an insulating disc 5 like in FIG. 4.

In a further embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 the insulating portions 3 are substantially frusto-conical cup-shaped 3′, in which the upper part has a substantially perimeter edge 31′ that defines a seat for housing the base of an analogous insulating portion allowing many portions to be stacked safely.

Such an edge also defines an outer shoulder 32′ on which the end of an insulating plate 2 can be rested. Moreover, the edge and the shoulder can act as interlocking element for a plate provided with recesses 21.

In the case in which the insulating portion is parallelepiped cup-shaped, an upper edge 31 is similarly provided that acts as support or interlocking element for a plate 2. Alternatively, a recess 31″ can be provided on the insulating portion whereas the edge 21″ is provided on the plate 2, like in FIG. 5a . Such couplings are also used to stack one insulating portion on another.

In a further embodiment the insulating portion comprises a collar 6 associated with the top of the sustaining tubular element 4.

Such a collar can be simply rested on the tubular element like in FIG. 10.

Moreover, such a collar can be made of expanded plastic material shaped like an inverted “U” and fitted onto the tubular element 4 like in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Finally, such a collar can again be made of expanded plastic material shaped like an inverted “U”, simultaneously fitted and slotted onto the rigid tubular element 4 like in FIG. 13.

Advantageously, the support structure at its base can comprise a network 7 of bases that represent a guide matrix for laying the sustaining elements and in particular for the sustaining tubular elements 4 and/or for the insulating portions 3.

Such a network is made through elongated elements such as strips, round bars or plates 71 and 72 arranged perpendicular to one another, so as to form a grid in which the crossing points between the strips form seats 73 for resting and interlocking the tubular elements 4. Each seat can advantageously be provided with a coupling ring 74 for such tubular elements.

According to a further characteristic of the present invention the support structure can have a grid 8 that is positioned on top of the sustaining tubular elements so as to keep them in position during the formation of the structure and the support of the plates.

Such a grid comprises circles 81 that are associated with the top of the tubular elements 4 and bars 82 that join together such rings like a checkerboard. 

1. A modular support structure for floors, the modular support structure comprising: a plurality of support elements, configured to combine with one another, for formation of a plane on which a layer of concrete can be laid, on which a floor in turn can be made; wherein each of the support elements comprises at least one sustaining element, on top of which at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate is associated, the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate configured to form the plane for the layer of concrete, wherein the at least one sustaining element comprises at least one sustaining tubular element configured to extend from the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate to the ground, wherein the support elements are configured to keep free space, between the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate and the ground, that can be kept empty or can be filled with suitable material, and wherein the at least one sustaining tubular element is open on a top, so that during casting of the concrete, the concrete enters the at least one sustaining tubular element so as to form, after the casting, a sustaining pillar.
 2. The modular support structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one sustaining element comprises an insulating portion that at least partially covers the at least one sustaining tubular element.
 3. The modular support structure of claim 2, wherein the insulating portion covers an upper portion of the at least one sustaining tubular element close to the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate.
 4. The modular support structure of claim 2, wherein the insulating portion substantially completely covers the at least one sustaining tubular element.
 5. The modular support structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate is square or rectangular.
 6. The modular support structure of claim 2, wherein the insulating portion is hollow for insertion therein of the at least one sustaining tubular element, and wherein the insulating portion is shaped like a substantially cylindrical, frusto-conical, or parallelepiped cup.
 7. The modular support structure of claim 6, wherein the insulating portion can be stacked on top of another insulating portion about the at least one sustaining tubular element.
 8. The modular support structure of claim 6, wherein when the insulating portion is parallelepiped shaped, the insulating portion has smooth side surfaces.
 9. The modular support structure of claim 6, wherein when the insulating portion is parallelepiped shaped, the insulating portion has knurled side surfaces.
 10. The modular support structure of claim 6, wherein inside the at least one sustaining tubular element, at a base thereof, an insulating disc is provided.
 11. The modular support structure of claim 6, wherein when the insulating portion is substantially frusto-conical cup-shaped, an upper portion of the insulating portion has a substantially perimeter edge that defines a seat for housing a base of an analogous insulating portion, allowing stacking of a plurality of insulating portions.
 12. The modular support structure of claim 11, wherein the substantially perimeter edge defines an outer shoulder on which an end of the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate (2) can be rested.
 13. The modular support structure of claim 12, wherein the substantially perimeter edge and the outer shoulder can act as an interlocking element for the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate provided with recesses.
 14. The modular support structure of claim 6, wherein if the shape of the insulating portion is like a parallelepiped cup, an upper edge of the insulating portion acts as a support or a coupling for the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate.
 15. The modular support structure of claim 1, wherein the insulating portion comprises a collar associated with the top of the at least one sustaining tubular element.
 16. The modular support structure of claim 1, comprising a network of bases positioned on the ground that represents a guide matrix for laying the at least one sustaining element.
 17. The modular support structure of claim 16, wherein the network comprises elongated elements arranged perpendicular to one another, so as to form a grid in which crossing points between the elongated elements form seats for supporting and coupling the at least one sustaining tubular element.
 18. The modular support structure of claim 1, comprising a grid positioned on the top of the at least one sustaining tubular element so as to keep the at least one sustaining tubular element in position during formation of the modular support structure and resting of the at least one substantially horizontal or arched insulating plate.
 19. The modular support structure of claim 18, wherein the grid comprises circles that are associated with the top of the at least one sustaining tubular element and bars that join together the circles.
 20. A modular support structure for floors, the modular support structure comprising: a plurality of support elements, configured to combine with one another, for formation of a plane on which concrete can be laid; wherein each of the support elements comprises at least one sustaining element, on top of which at least one insulating plate is associated, the at least one insulating plate configured to form the plane for the concrete, wherein the at least one sustaining element comprises at least one sustaining tubular element configured to extend from the at least one insulating plate to the ground, wherein the support elements are configured to keep free space, between the at least one insulating plate and the ground, that can be kept empty or can be at least partially filled with suitable material, and wherein the at least one sustaining tubular element is open at a first end, so that during casting of the concrete, the concrete enters the at least one sustaining tubular element so as to form, after the casting, a sustaining pillar. 